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Svetlana Tikhanovskaya issued an ultimatum
The former rival of Alexander Lukashenko in the presidential elections Svetlana Tikhanovskaya announced a “people’s ultimatum” to the Belarusian authorities.
The protests against Alexander Lukashenko continue in Belarus. And they can go to the next level. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, from abroad, threatens the Old Man with a general strike.
Correspondent.netcontinues to monitor the situation in Belarus.
Tikhanovskaya Declaration
Tikhanovskaya gave Lukashenka 13 days, until October 25, to fulfill only three requirements:
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Lukashenka must announce his resignation.
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Street violence must stop completely.
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All political prisoners must be released.
“If our demands are not met by October 25, the whole country will take to the streets peacefully with the Ultimatum of the People. And on October 26, a national strike of all companies will begin, all roads will be blocked, sales in state stores will collapse. You have 13 days to meet three conditions. We have 13 days to prepare, and during all this time the Belarusians will continue their peaceful and persistent protest, ”Tikhanovskaya said.
What is the point
Belarusian political scientist Dmitry Bolkunets believes that Lukashenka is interested in meeting at least some of the opposition’s demands.
“I think this is not even an ultimatum from Tikhanovskaya, but from the Belarusian people, who protest in different ways every day. On October 12 there was a large march of retirees who were dispersed by noise grenades, people who do not represent a threat to the authorities. But even against them, special equipment was used. Tikhanovskaya, of course, observing this process, presented an ultimatum. Lukashenka went to the remand center, the KGB, only two people were released, who made a deal with the State Security Committee. The rest apparently refused to cooperate and work at Lukashenka’s urging, and remain in prison. Tikhanovskaya’s demand to release the prisoners has long been raised by everyone, including the West, ”says Bolkunets.
In his opinion, after meeting with European politicians and diplomats, Tikhanovskaya probably found some insight on how to influence political processes in Belarus.
“Alyaksandr Lukashenka has no money. It is not surprising that he went on October 10 to meet with the opposition, trying to agree on some forms of cooperation. The budget in the country has ended, there is no possibility of crediting either in the West or in China, and the Russian Federation is only now allowing to cover the debt for gas. That is, the money that Lukashenko received from the Kremlin for his support after the elections stays in Russia. There are no more opportunities to attract external resources. Until the end of the year Belarus has obligations to external creditors, they must be extinguished with something ”, explains Bolkunets, on the vulnerability of the Belarusian regime to strikes at the moment.
At the same time, experts are sure that Lukashenka will not make concessions anyway.
“The authorities obviously do not see the complexity of their position. Clearly underrated. This situation has not changed since the new year. Each time they greatly underestimate the problems they have to face. Therefore, it is unlikely that this ultimatum can be heard in this regard, ”said Belarusian political scientist Valeria Kostyugova.
